Thinkering Studio & Engage (7/8)

• Similarities
  • Both emphasize process & product
  • Emphasize technology integration
  • Emphasize formal & informal collaboration, in person and electronically, synchronously and asynchronously (but Engage emphasizes it more)
  • Share many of the same influences, though to different degrees (see below)
• Differences
  • Thinkering Studio - Projects are student selected, self-directed, & self-paced
  • Engage - 3 of 4 projects each year are selected by the teachers, though there are elements of student choice and self-directed learning
    • "Schools have a sacred obligation to introduce children to things they don’t yet know they love." Stager
  • Engage - Focuses on the enGauge skills
  • Thinkering Studio - Meets twice a week from 90-100 minutes
  • Engage - Meets 4 days a week for 200+ minutes
  • Thinkering Studio - an elective - skills learned may translate to other classes
  • Engage - a core class - skills learned by students benefit all other classes
  • Thinkering Studio - Students maintain a weekly journal (planning & reflection) and a personal portfolio
  • Engage - Planning and reflection are specific activities/discussions designed by the teacher for each project
  • Thinkering Studio - Most heavily influenced by Writers Workshop, studio based learning, self-directed learning (think Big Picture Schools), 3M's 15% Time
  • Engage - Most heavily influenced by enGauge, Constructionism, Fablabs, Makerspaces,
  • Thinkering Studio - Primary evaluation comes from Effort & Achievement Rubric, Self-Created Rubrics, and elements from the Thinkering Studio rubric chosen by the students
  • Engage - Evaluation instruments are designed for each project & there is a focus on the Group Skills rubric

• Thinkering Studio - Projects can be any topic/challenge/question/problem where students can show they are learning, so long as they are school appropriate
• Re:Make - Projects must involve making or remaking/hacking something
• Thinkering Studio - Projects can last any length of time from a day to a month to a year or more
• Re:Make - Projects must be completed during the 4th marking period
• Thinkering Studio - Individual and pair projects predominate
• Re:Make - Pair and small group projects predominate